Effect of drip fertigation on resultant seed quality of long duration Pigeon pea crop (Cajanus Cajan)

Abstract

The field experiments were conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kundrakudi Sivaganga District during two seasons to study the effect of drip fertigation on seed quality of long duration pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) (LRG 41) crop variety. The experiment includes combination of water and nutrients levels. Three irrigation regimes (50%, 75% and 100% WRc (computed water requirement of crop) and surface irrigation) and three fertilizer levels (with conventional fertilizers and water soluble fertilizers) formed the treatment combinations. The results revealed that drip irrigation and fertigation treatments responded well to pigeon pea resultant seed quality. In the treatment T9, drip irrigation with 100 per cent water requirement of crop with application of 125 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) through water soluble fertilizers recorded the maximum seed quality parameters viz., germination percentage (97% mean of two years), root length (17.65 cm), shoot length (13.8 cm), dry matter production (5.1 g plant-1) and vigour index (3085.5) of pigeon pea crop compared to T14 control treatment recorded lowest seed quality index viz., germination percentage (60% mean of two years), root length (13.15 cm), shoot length (9.95 cm), dry matter production (5.1 g plant-1) and vigour index (1387.5), respectively. Increased nutrient availability coupled with optimum moisture supply through drip fertigation system to the pigeon pea crop consequently led to better formation and translocation of assimilates from source to sink as they play vital role in various biochemical processes for seed quality.